Should You Shift to Neutral When Waiting at a Red Light in an Automatic Transmission Car?

[SanJaxson]

Here are the gear shifting methods for automatic transmission cars when waiting at a red light: 1. If the red light lasts less than 30 seconds, simply hold the brake. 2. If the red light lasts more than 30 seconds, it is recommended to shift to neutral. Below are the meanings of the letters on the gear positions of an automatic transmission car: 1. P stands for Parking gear. Used when turning off the engine or for long-term parking. 2. R stands for Reverse gear. 3. N stands for Neutral gear. Used for short-term parking. 4. D stands for Drive gear. In this gear, the transmission will automatically switch between gears 1 to 5 based on speed and throttle conditions.

[DavidRose]

As an experienced driver who has been driving for decades, I believe there's no need to shift to neutral when waiting at traffic lights. Keeping the gear in D with your foot on the brake is perfectly safe - this prevents the car from rolling, especially on slopes or during rainy weather. If you shift to neutral, the transmission disconnects, and any accidental rollback could cause trouble. Modern automatic transmissions are intelligently designed to reduce engine load when braking, so it barely consumes extra fuel. I've tried occasionally shifting to neutral for foot comfort, but soon had to shift back - it actually slows reaction time. Traffic light waits are usually just tens of seconds - why bother with unnecessary operations? Safety first, relaxed driving is what matters most.

[LaDominic]

I'm someone who really focuses on fuel efficiency and environmental protection. Shifting to neutral at red lights with an automatic transmission can indeed save a bit of fuel because the engine has less load when idling. However, after multiple tests, the amount of fuel saved is negligible—probably only around 5%. It's also a hassle to shift to neutral for short stops at red lights, as you have to quickly shift back to drive, and it can be awkward if you're slow to start and get honked at by others. Nowadays, many new cars come with automatic start-stop systems, which shut off the engine entirely and save even more fuel than shifting to neutral. So, unless you're stopped for a long time—like a minute or two—I think shifting to neutral isn't worth it. Keeping it in drive and holding the brake is the most convenient and efficient option.

[LaRylee]

When commuting by car, I usually shift to neutral at red lights to relax my foot and reduce vehicle vibration. However, there were times when I forgot to shift back, stepped on the gas at green light, and the car didn't move - the honking from behind was really embarrassing. Later, I adjusted my habit: keeping it in D for short red lights, and only shifting to neutral for long stops (1-2 minutes) or smooth traffic conditions. Actually, it's all about personal preference with no right or wrong - the key is maintaining safety. My friend always says shifting to neutral is troublesome, and after trying his method, I found it convenient too. The main point is not being too rigid - just handle it flexibly based on traffic and mood.